River cruise lines outline preparations as European water levels fall

River cruise operators have said it is “more important than ever” to be prepared for hotter summers impacting water levels and operations.

 

The prolonged heatwave in Europe has led to water levels in the Rhine and the Danube, the most popular destinations for river cruise itineraries in the region, falling to multi-year lows.

 

This week the Rhine’s depth dropped to as low as 53 centimetres near Frankfurt, while the Danube’s level in Budapest fell to within eight centimetres of the record low of 38 centimetres set ⁠in 2018.

 

On trade social media pages, UK agents reported cancellations or changed itineraries in the last week by Avalon Waterways, Emerald, Scenic and APT Travelmarvel.

 

Paul Melinis, managing director of APT Luxury and Travelmarvel in the UK and Europe, said “extreme weather” was “an inevitability” the industry has always had to manage, adding most of the company’s cruises “operated as planned”.

 

He said “the real test” was how operators responded to “circumstances outside our control” and communicated those with passengers.

 

Melinis said: “With hotter summers becoming more frequent, being prepared and therefore able to adapt quickly is more important than ever.

 

“At APT Luxury and Travelmarvel, we have decades of experience operating river cruises across Europe, with experienced teams on the ground constantly monitoring conditions and working closely with our ships and local partners to adapt to external conditions.

 

“While we have had to make some adjustments to sailings where absolutely necessary, most of our cruises continue to operate as planned.”

 

He added: “We can’t control the weather, but we can control how well we prepare for it and how we respond, and I think that’s where experienced river cruise operators really show their value.”

 

A Riviera Travel spokesperson said low water levels "can occasionally affect river cruise operations", particularly during periods of prolonged warm weather, and the company would “continue to monitor conditions closely" and work alongside operational partners to make any necessary itinerary adjustments. 

They added: "Our priority is always the safety and enjoyment of our guests, and our experienced teams have a range of contingency plans in place to ensure holidays continue to deliver a fantastic experience. Guests and agents are kept fully informed throughout, and feedback from those currently travelling remains positive."

 

Vicky Billing, director of UK and Ireland trade and partnerships at Riviera Travel, added: “Our agent partners and guests can book and travel with confidence, knowing we continue to monitor conditions closely and are well-equipped to adapt where necessary, ensuring they can enjoy the outstanding river cruise experience Riviera Travel is known for.”

 

She said the operator had made changes to prioritise the “comfort and wellbeing” of customers during the extreme heat.

 

For example, she said, cruise directors and local suppliers have been reviewing excursion timings and ensuring water is provided on coaches to encourage passengers to stay hydrated and avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

AmaWaterways managing director for international markets Jamie Loizou said the “priority” was to keep cruises operating “whenever it is safe to do so”.

Loizou said: “We make every effort to adapt itineraries rather than cancel sailings outright, and we have not cancelled any cruises due to the current low water levels.

“Any adjustments are made on a voyage-by-voyage basis depending on the latest river conditions. On some Danube and Rhine sailings, this may include adjusting the order of ports, arranging motorcoach transfers around temporarily non-navigable sections of the river, modifying embarkation or disembarkation points, or implementing ship swaps.”

He added transfers between “virtually identical ships” was possible as sister ships sail on opposite rotations on both rivers, which “minismises disruption” to passengers.

 

Loizou said the operations team was “constantly reviewing” conditions and “do not wait until conditions become a problem” to act.

 

Looking ahead, he said: “River conditions have always varied from year to year, and weather has always been part of operating river cruises. That said, we are seeing greater variability in weather patterns, so it’s important that the industry continues to be prepared and adaptable.”

 

A spokesperson for Viking said selected itineraries “may be modified” due to  sections of the Danube and Rhine Rivers are experiencing “unusually low water levels” and work was being carried out to “minimise the impact” on customers.

 

They added: “Viking has extensive experience managing variable river conditions in Europe. We are the largest river line—with a fleet of ships that we own and operate—and our Switzerland-based nautical team works in coordination with local authorities and port partners to monitor water levels and implement operational adjustments as needed. 

  

“In addition, Viking strategically deploys sister ships on the same itineraries in opposite directions. When river conditions require it, Viking may implement a ship swap, allowing guests and their luggage to transfer to their exact same stateroom on an identical sister ship positioned on the other side of the affected section of river. This approach helps preserve itineraries and reduce disruptions to the guest experience.”

 

A spokesperson for CroisiEurope said the line had not had to cancel any departures and had been able to “manage the situation by adapting itineraries and switching ships where needed”.